Jinyan Wu, a Graduate student in the PhD program

I am originally from China and came to Japan after graduating from university, with an interest in geriatric nursing. I worked as a nurse for three years in a chronic care ward and two years in an acute care ward. Through my clinical experience, I became aware that inappropriate care responses could trigger BPSD (behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia) in hospitalized patients, which led me to pursue graduate studies to visualize and promote high-quality dementia care practices. Currently, in my doctoral research, I am using nationwide DPC data and interview surveys to evaluate the effects of team-based dementia care incentives and to develop a sustainable dementia care model for acute care hospitals. I am enjoying a fulfilling student life with warm support from my professors and colleagues.

Ryousuke Yamada, a Graduate student in the PhD program

My research interests are in quality assessment and improvement in home care practice. Working as a home care nurse, I found it challenging to explain the effectiveness of home care nursing practice to non-home care workers. During my Master’s, I researched the idea that new graduates and novice home care nurses may have similar difficulties in understanding the practice of their seniors, which may lead to problems in their nursing practice. I also investigated whether home care nurse education was associated with home care nursing practice. I believe this lab has teachers and students from various backgrounds and is a place where new learning and discoveries can be made.

Sarina Enami, a Graduate student in the PhD program

After four years of work as a nurse in a University hospital’s Emergency Intensive Care Unit, I entered graduate school in this department. I also took the Community Health Nursing course to learn about community health care and public health in the master’s program. I’d like to tackle the research on the decision-making support or Advance care planning in acute care settings that can help individuals meet a satisfying and peaceful end of life, and families feel less distressed by facing the sudden change of patients. I can fully concentrate on my studies thanks to the welcoming, fantastic atmosphere of the class and my truly supportive professors and seniors.

Chien-Jung HUANG, a Graduate student in the Master’s program

I graduated from the School of Gerontology and Long-Term Care at Taipei Medical University and first joined this lab as a research student, where I spent a year learning and exploring. This year, I have continued my studies as a first-year master’s student, further deepening my research. Japan is said to have entered an aging society 20 years earlier than Taiwan, and its policies serve as an important reference for Taiwan. Through a 2.5 year internship during my undergraduate studies, I became interested in comparing the quality of care between Japan and Taiwan. Currently, my main focus is on improving the quality of home care, exploring better ways to provide care services. The professors and seniors in the classroom are incredibly supportive and warm. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to study in this classroom, which provides an environment conducive to learning.

Reina Onozuka, a Graduate student in the Master’s program

After graduating from university, I worked as a nurse in the ICU of a university hospital, where I developed an interest in how stigma affects health. This led me to pursue graduate studies. In particular, I aim to investigate how stigma toward older adults and individuals with dementia affects their physical and psychological well-being, as well as their social connections. Additionally, I am enrolled in the Community Health Nursing program, where I am learning about fostering inclusive communities and the nursing practices that support them. I am eager to contribute to building a society where everyone is equally valued, regardless of their health status or social background, and where diverse perspectives and values are recognized and appreciated.

Yuan Liu, a Graduate student in the Master’s program

After graduating from a university in China, I worked for one year as a nurse in the general ICU of a university hospital before moving to Japan. In Japan, I spent two years working as a nurse in a chronic care hospital, where I was deeply impressed by the country’s advanced elderly care practices and well-developed social security system. These experiences motivated me to pursue further research. Currently, I am particularly interested in infection prevention in home-based elderly care and the application of AI technologies, and I am actively conducting research in these areas. Although I am still a beginner in nursing research and have much to learn, I am receiving enthusiastic guidance from my professors and senior colleagues, and I am spending fulfilling days growing both academically and personally.